Chair footrest



Jan. 7, 1964 B. L. SIEGAL 3,116,955

CHAIR FOOTREST Original Filed Oct. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [HI EHfUf" Bu'mfan L 51,94!

B. L. SIEGAL CHAIR FOOTREST Jan. 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 5, 1959 [Wren/0r Burton L. Sm'ga kriz % j jff 5.

Jan. 7, 1964 B. L. SIEGAL 3,116,955

INVENTOR.

"1 A Eurfaw -L. 5/9741 A TTORNE United States Patent 3,116,955 CHAlR FGQTREST Burton L. Siegal, Chicago, lll., assignor to Emil J. Paidar Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Continuation of application Ser. No. 844,278, Get. 5, 1959. This application Sept. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 137,715 11 Claims. (Cl. 297-436) The present invention relates to improvements in chair footrests and particularly to adjustable footrests of the type for use with a barber chair or the like, and to supports for footrests, platforms and aprons carried on barber chairs.

This application is a continuation of my copending application U.S. Serial No. 844,278, filed October 5, 1959, now abandoned.

In barber chairs or similar chair constructions having movable footrests, the chair occupant is seated in the chair and the footrest is movable with respect to the chair seat, usually concurrently with movement of the chair back. The footrest is mounted on a support at the front of the chair so that the occupant can extend his legs and rest his feet on the footrest, and the footrest is frequently pivotally mounted for tilting adjustment, as well as being elevatable with respect to the chair seat. In addition to the footrest, a platform is mounted on the front of a barher chair which provides a place for the occupant to step, upon getting into the chair or upon getting out. Above the platform is an apron which hides the pump and central column of the chair and prevents the occupant from accidentally moving his legs back against the central column.

A feature of the present invention is to provide an improved support for carrying the footrest, the platform, and the apron at the front of a barber chair utilizing one piece J-shaped arms related to the part so that they will be supported in an improved more rigid manner and with the support having advantages of an inexpensive, simplified construction and assembly.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved pivotal supporting mechanism for carrying a footrest, a platform, and an apron at the front of a barber chair and holding them in selected elevated positions, which incorporates side arms of improved construction that are inexpensive to manufacture and which accommodate improved mounting arrangements of the elements supported thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved one piece side support arms for carrying a footrest on a barber chair which provide a stronger and more reliable support without adding unwanted weight to the front of a chair.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pivotally mounted chair footrest wherein the resistance to pivotal movement is adjustable, and improved stops for limiting pivotal movement are included.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair footrest of improved lightweight construction having featnres of ease of assembly and low manufacturing cost.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiment thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view looking upwardly at a footrest assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view illustrating certain details of the footrest assembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line IlIIlI of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed end elevational view of an end plate for the footrest member;

3,116,955 Patented Jan. 7, 1964 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a barber chair provided with a footrest and support mechanism in accordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing inner framework structure with parts removed.

As shown on the drawings:

As illustrated in FIGURES 1, 6 and 7, the footrest assembly includes a pair of shaped side arms 10 and 11 which are provided with suitable means such as bored holes 9 for attaching to a barber chair or the like. The side arms are substantially J-shaped and at the base of the J is mounted a platform or footplate 12. The footplate has a slot ribbed plate portion 13 and downwardly turned flanges at its sides 14 and '15. The flanges are notched such as at 14a and 14b for the flange 14 and at 15a and 15b for the flange 15 and the notches permit the flanges to fit over the side arms for rigidity.

Beneath the plate 13 are attached downwardly extendin angle brackets for attachment to the arms with only one bracket 16 being shown. The brackets are provided with slotted openings to receive studs which are welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the arms 10 and 11 and receive nuts, such as illustrated at 18a in FTGURE 2, to clamp the brackets to the aims. The resultant assembly provides a very rigid support for the plate 12, such as is capable of supporting the weight of an occupant of the chair as he steps onto the plate. The plate 12 is preftrably formed of extruded aluminum for lightweight, inexpensive cost of manufacture and attractive appearance.

Mounted pivotally on the upturned ends of the side arms 1i) and 11 is the footrest member 19.

The rfootrest member has end plates 2i) and 21 provided with integral portions which may be referred to as bearing plates. The bearing plates are of identical construction for each of the end plates 2'3 and 21 and therefore only the plate 2 2 may be shown in the drawings. The bearing plates 22 are provided with openings 23 which receive bearing sleeves 24 and 25 which are preferably formed of a plastic material such as known by the trade nylon. The arms are provided with holes 10a and 11a through which extends a pivotal support rod 26.

The support rod 26 passes through the sleeves 24 and 25 and through the holes 23 in the bearing plates. The ends of the rod 26 are threaded and received tightening knobs 27 and 28. Manual tightening of these knobs will control the force between the bearing sleeves 24 and 25 and the bearing plates so as to control the frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the footrest member 19, the sleeves 24 and 25 serving the dual function of providing a bearing support and a frictional restraining brake. The non-metallic bearing will insure an absence of squeaking or metallic ring when pressure and/ or motion is applied by the oocupants feet. Knobs 27 and 28 contain a wire thread insert with an upset thread to make a self-locking fastener which will enable the knob to retain any setting. The running torque of this fastener is selected so as to insure that a mischievous child would not be strong enough to turn the knob while the average man could do so with reasonable ease. The arms 10 and 1-1 have sufficient flexibility to flex laterally with tightening of the knobs 27 and 28, even though the platform 12 holds the spacing of the arms rigid. An advantage in controlling the flip over torque is to prevent banging of the footrest, and also to create greater comfort for the occupant, adjusting the torque to his comfort. Also the footrest will remain in position if the occupants feet or legs are temporarily lifted.

The end plates 2t and 21 each have arcuate slots 31 located in the bearing plate 22. The slots 31 are of limited length and are swung from the axial center of the bearing opening 23. The slots in each of the end plates receive stop pins 29 and Stl which are rigidly mounted on the side arms and 11 and project inwardly. As the footrest member 19 is pivoted, the pins 29 and 3% will strike the ends of the slots 31 to limit pivotal movement of the footrest member 1? permitting it to be tilted to optimum positions for turning up either of the faces of the footrest member. Thus the footrest arms can be plain in shape, with a planar inner surface, supporting the pins 31.

The footrest member, as particularly illustrated in detail in FIGURES 3 through 5, and as also shown in FIG-- URES 1, 2, 6 and 7, includes a hollow body member 32 which is preferably formed of extruded aluminum. The body member 32 is generally tubular in shape having flat surfaces 33 and 34 joined by sides 35 and 36 which are somewhat rounded. The flat surface 33 is provided with longitudinally extending ribs 37 and has a heel-rest ledge or ridge 38 along one side. The other flat surface 34 is provided with a rectangular recess 39 for receiving a padded cushion plate 41. The flange surrounding the recess protects the plate and prevents accidental removal. The surface 34 of the body member has a plurality of holes 46 for receiving pop-in locking pins 45 which project from the back of the cushion plate, are held by locking washers 45a, and are lockingly received by tubular connectors 45!) mounted in the holes 49 of the body member. The cushion plate has a thin wood stiifening member 42 covered by a padding 43 with a cover 44 of plastic or leather drawn over the padding 43 and cemented or otherwise suitably attached back of the wood 42. The tubular connectors 455 are of the tubular spring locking type which permit the cushion plate to be easily and instantly removed by the owner of the chair should the occasion arise, but prevent mischievous removal. This arrangement permits removal of the cushion plate 41, as shown in FIGURE 2, and replacement thereof for repair or for change of appearance or color.

The end plates and 21 are attached to the body 32 of the footrest member and each of the end plates, as illustrated in FIGURE 5 has an inwardly extending flange 49 with the shoulder 54 at the outer base of the flange. The flange fits inside of the hollow end of the body 32. The inwardly extending flange 49 has a compound taper to insure correct piloting and seating with permissible tolerances being at extremes. It preferably has a 12 taper for 3 of its depth 49a, which it pilots on, and 21 5, 5%, taper for the last a" on which it seats. The radius of curvature of the flange 49 is smaller than the sides 35 and 36 so that the end of the body member 32 will actually be stretched over the flange. This provides for improved transfer of forces and improved strength so that the hollow body member 33. can withstand a chair occupant pushing his feet hard against the patent such as either maliciously or to raise himself in the chair.

Holes 47 and all are formed in the bearing plate portion of the end plates and receive attaching screws for securing the end plate to the body. The attaching screws are of the self-tapping type and are threaded into slotted openings 53 and 54 in brackets 51 and 52 extending integrally inside of the footrest body 32.

In operation, the footrest may be turned so that the ribbed surface 33 faces upwardly or so that the cushioned plate 41 faces upwardly, the pivotal movement being limited by the pins 29 and 3t extending into the arcuate slots 31. The footrest can also be set in adjusted positions and the resistance against its rotation can be adjustably set by tightening or loosening the knobs Z7 and 28 which determine the pressure between the tubular bearing sleeves 24 and and the bearing plate portion 22 of the end plates.

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate the footrest assembly supported in place on a barber chair. The barber chair, as exemplary of power elevated, rotatable chairs, is supported on a base 57 having a vertical column 58 rising therefrom and provided with power elevating mechanism which is hydraulically or mechanically operated. At the top of the central elevating column 58 is a frame member 59 shown in the form of a flat metal plate. The plate supports a seat, FIGURE 6, and side armrests 61 are suitably supported on the frame 59. A brake and control lever 62 is mounted at the side of the chair and a backrest 63 is located at the back of the seat 60.

At the forward end of the frame 59, FIGURE 7, support pins 64 and 65 extend through the holes 9 at the upper ends of the footrest arms 10 and 11 for pivotally supporting the arms. The pins are supported by inverted channels 66 and 67 which are secured along beneath the rame plate 59, and which pivotally support arms 74 and at their rear end for carrying the backrest 63. Extending across between the footrest arms 10 and 11 is an adjustment bar 68 to which is connected an adjustment arm 69 which interconnects the footrest arms 16 and 11 and the backrest arms 74 and 75, and can be locked in an adjusted position.

Between the footrest arms 10 and 11 is mounted an apron 73 which is secured to the footrest arms by bolts extending through brackets 71 on each of the arms 1t) and 11, and by bolts extending through the adjustment bar 68 through openings 72.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a chair construction which has simplified strong one piece J -shaped foot supporting armrests Ill and 11 which are easily formed of fiat material shaped to accommodate the strengthening elements and elements supported thereby, and positioned so that it carries the weight of the elements edgewise to provide optimum strength. The edgewise position of the J-shaped side arms accommodates the arm entering the notches at the turned down edges of the platform 12, to thus rigidity and positively fix the lateral spacing of the arms. The arms also have a limited amount of flexibility at their ends to accommodate adjustment of the knobs for tightening or loosening the footrest 1?, and the arms are additionally held rigid at their upper ends by the adjustment bar 68 and the apron 73 between the arms. The arms are simply supported on the frame by pivotal pins, and the adjustment bar 67 is secured to the arms such as by bolts 70 which are releasable so that the arms can be swung upwardly free of the bar 68. In normal operation the footrest will be positioned in accordance with the position of the bar 68 which is interconnected with the backrest through the rods 69.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved pivotally supported footrest having the advantages and meeting the objectives hereinabove set forth. The mechanism is inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts and can be formed of extruded aluminum reducing the cost of manufacture and providing an attractive unit. The assembled mechanism is easily adjusted and the parts coact to form a rigid footrest assem bly unit capable of withstanding heavy loads.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable footrest for a barber chair or the like comprising a pair of side supporting arms for mounting on a chair, a footrest member, a bearing plate on each end of the footrest member with an opening therein, a friction bearing sleeve for each bearing plate extending into the plate opening, a pivotal support rod extending through said arms and footrest member and through said sleeves and bearing plate for pivotally supporting the footrest member, and a friction adjustment knob on the end of the rod for adjustably forcing the sleeves into the bearing plates to control the frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the footrest on the arms.

2. An adjustable footrest for a barber chair or the like comprising a pair of side supporting arms for mounting on a chair, a footrest member, a bearing plate on each end of the footrest member with an opening therein, a nylon bearing friction sleeve for each plate extending into the plate opening, a rod extending through the arms and footrest and extending through the openings in the plate and through the sleeves, a friction adjustment knob on each end of the rod for forcing the friction sleeves into the openings to control the resistance to pivotal movement of the footrest, means defining an arcuate slot in each of the plates swung about the center of the openings therein extending for a predetermined distance, and a stop pin on each of said arms projecting into said slots for limiting the pivotal movement of the footrest member.

3. An adjustable footrest for a barber chair or the like comprising a pair of side supporting arms for mounting on a chair, a hollow tubular aluminum extruded body member having open ends with first and second flat surfaces and sides joining said surfaces, brackets extending inwardly at each end with-in the body member for receiving the attaching members, an end plate at each end closing said hollow body member and secured with attaching members, ribs extending longitudinally along the first of said flat surfaces, means defining openings in the second of said flat surfaces for receiving lock-ing pins, a padded cushion plate with projecting locking pins attached to said second fiat surface, means defining a bearing opening in each of said end plates, a plastic bearing sleeve projecting into each of said bearing openings ,a pivotal support rod extending through openings in said arms and through the openings in said end plates and carrying said bearing sleeves, an adjustment knob on each end of said rod for adjustably drawing the arms toward said end plates to force the bearing sleeves frictionally into the openings and control the resistance to pivotal movement of the body member, arcuate slots swung about the axis of the pivotal movement of the body member in each of said end plates, and pins rigidly mounted in the arms and extending into said slots to limit the pivotal movement of said body member.

4. In a mechanical chair, a footrest assembly comprising a pair of integral one piece side arms being J-shaped with a long and a short end and formed of a fiat material having planar side surfaces, means at the upper ends of the arms for pivotally mounting them on the chair, an apron between the longer ends of the arms in engagement with the inner surfaces thereof, attaching means on the inner surfaces of the arms secured to the rear of the apron, a platform at the inner base of the arm supported on the edge of the arms and having portions straddling said arms and in engagement with the arm side surfaces holding the arms a fixed distance apart, a footrest between the shorter ends of the arms, and means clamping the shorter ends of the arms against the ends of the footrest with said shorter ends having suflicient yieldability to accommodate said clamping means.

5. in a mechanical chair, a footrest assembly comprising a pair of integral one piece side arms being J-shaped with a long and a short end formed of a flat material having planar side surfaces, means at the upper ends of the arms for pivotally mounting them on the chair, an apron between the longer ends of the arms, a platform mounted on the base of the arms between the ends and secured thereto fixing the lateral spacing of the arms and preventing lateral tipping thereof, a footrest between the shorter ends of the arms, a threaded rod extending through openings in the shorter ends of the arms, and threaded tightening members on the ends of the rod for drawing the arms against the ends of the footrests, said arms being sufliciently resilient to accommodate being acted on by the tightening members.

6f 6. An assembly for a mechanicalchair comprising a pair of integral one .piece side arms having a base portion with an upwardly extending long end and an upwardly extending short end, the longend-adapted for: pivotal connection tothe chair, aplatform rigidly secured to the baseportion fixing the spacing between the arms, a footrest member, a bearing plate on eachend" of the footrest member with an opening therein, a friction bearing sleeve for each bearing plate extending into the plate opening, a pivotal support rod extending through openings in said arms and through said footrest member and through said sleeves and bearing plate for pivotally supporting the footrest member, and a friction adjustment knob on the ends of the rod for adjustably forcing the sleeves into the bearing plates to control the frictional resistance to pivotal movement of the footrest on the arms.

7. An assembly for a mechanical chair comprising a pair of integral one piece arms formed of a flat material with the fiat surfaces at the sides of the arms and the edges facing vertically, said arms shaped in a general J- shape with a base portion and upwardly extending ends at each side of the base portion, means on one of said ends for pivotally connecting the arms to the chair, means on the other of said ends for pivotally supporting a footrest between the arms, and a platform rigidly secured to the base portion fixing the spacing between the arms and engaging the flat side surfaces preventing tipping of the arms.

-8. An adjustable footrest for a barber chair or the like comprising a pair of one piece side supporting arms for mounting on a chair having a general J-shape, a platform member supported at the base of the side arms, a footrest member pivotally mounted between one of the ends of the side arm, means for pivot-ally mounting the side arms on a chair frame at the other end, pivotal movement limiting pins projecting inwardly and secured to each of the side arms adjacent the footrest member, and a movement limiting stop means at each end of the footrest member coacting with the pins for limiting the pivotal movement of the footrest member.

-9. In a footrest for pivotally mounting between support arms on a barber chair, a hollow tubular footrest body member, footrest end members each having an inwardly extending flange of a size to stretch the body member thereover when pressed into the ends of the body member for transmission of forces applied to the body member, and means for pivotally supporting said end members.

10. An assembly for a mechanical chair having a chair frame comprising:

a pair of integral one-piece side supporting arms,

said side arms being shaped in a general J-shape with a base portion and upwardly extending ends at each side of the base portion,

means on one of said upwardly extending ends to pivotally connect the side arms to the chair frame, means on the other upwardly extending ends to pivotally support a footrest bet-ween the side arms, and

a platform rigidly secured to the base portion of said side arms to fix the spacing between the side arms.

11. An assembly for a mechanical chair having a base with a frame supporting a seat with chair arms attached thereto, comprising:

a pair of one-piece side supporting arms,

said side arms being shaped in a general J-shape with a base portion and upwardly extending ends at each side of the base portion,

means on one of said upwardly extending ends to pivotally connect the side arms to the chair frame,

said side arms being turned inwardly adjacent the base portion thereof to be spaced apart a distance less than the space between the chair arms to pass therebetween when pivoted upwardly over the chair seat, means on the other upwardly extending ends to pivotally support a footrest between the side arms, and

7 8' a platform rigidly secured to the base portion of said 534,582 Sargent Feb. 19, 1895 side arms to fix the spacing between the side arms. 535,999 Sargent Mar. 19, 1895 648,902 Ely et al May 1, 1900 References Cited in the file of this patent 1,772,083 Sanop Aug 5' 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,236,983 Y usek Apr. 1, 1941 483,807 Johnston et a1 Oct. 4, 1892 2,504,140 Bursey y 22, 1952 491,098 Gould Feb. 7, 1893 2,980,170 Bechtold Apr. 18, 1961 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE FOOTREST FOR A BARBER CHAIR OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE SUPPORTING ARMS FOR MOUNTING ON A CHAIR, A FOOTREST MEMBER, A BEARING PLATE ON EACH END OF THE FOOTREST MEMBER WITH AN OPENING THEREIN, A FRICTION BEARING SLEEVE FOR EACH BEARING PLATE EXTENDING INTO THE PLATE OPENING, A PIVOTAL SUPPORT ROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ARMS AND FOOTREST MEMBER AND THROUGH SAID SLEEVES AND BEARING PLATE FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE FOOTREST MEMBER, AND A FRICTION ADJUSTMENT KNOB ON THE END OF THE ROD FOR ADJUSTABLY FORCING THE SLEEVES INTO THE BEARING PLATES TO CONTROL THE FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE FOOTREST ON THE ARMS. 